Improvement in machines for splitting kindling-wood



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY BEHN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR SPLITTING KlNDLlNG-WOOD.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 34,808, dated April 1,1862.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY BEHN, of New York, in the county and State ofNew York, have invented a new and Improved Machine for OhoppingKindling-XVood; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full andexact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Figure I represents a front view. Fig. II shows a side view in sectionat the center line, and Fig.III is a horizontal section at the line 2 3,Fig. I.

Similar letters represents similar parts.

The nature of my invention consists in the arrangement of an eccentricchopping-knife on a shaft operated by a lever, in combination with amovable support situated below said knife, whereby kindling-wood may beeasily chopped or split into small pieces without any noise or danger.

In the accompanying drawings,A is alight frame, near the upper end ofwhich a shaftB is made to work in suitable bearings. To this shaft B ahandle C and eccentric chopping-knife D are either securely fastened, orthe same may be all cast together in one piece, as here represented. Inthe center of the frame a slot n is provided, extending` nearly thewhole length, on the upper end of which a larger opening m is made forthe head of the support to pass. On each side of the slot n racks orteeth p p are arranged, whose.

indentations correspond with each other.

E is the support. The saine projects through and works in the slot Inand has a head 7L on its end capable of passing through the opening mand bearing against the back side of the frame A. On the lower side ofthe support E an arm g is attached, forming a brace and fitting into theteeth or indentav tions of the racks p.

When the support E is lifted up, so that the arm g comes clearof theteeth in the racks p, this said support can be moved upward or downward,so as to regulate the distance between its face andthe chopping-knife D,ac-k cording to the length of the wood to be split, and is then irinlyheld by the arm g in the teeth of the racks p and bythe bearing of thehead 7L against the back side of the frame A. The face of this support Emay be grooved or made in any manner rough to give a sure bearing forthe end of the wood. A short distance below the shaft B, but clear ofthe motion of the eccentric chopping-knife D, a projection CZ is cast onthe frame, made with a rough surface or pointed to prevent the wood fromslipping sidewise.

The operation is as follows: The supportE is moved in the properposition to correspond with thelength of the wood to be split, when thehandle C, with the knife D, is lifted upward. The wood is then Vplacedupon the support E, when the knife D is brought down by the motion ofthe handle, and in consequence of its eccentricity enters the wood somedistance, sufficient to cause the saine to split without the least noiseor danger resulting from the use of an ax, commonly enlployed at presentfor that purpose.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The arrangement of an eccentric choppingknife D, in combination with amovable support E, for the purpose of splitting kindlingwood, when thewhole is constructed and operating in the manner substantially asdescribed.

HENRY BEHN.

Witness es HENRY E. RoEDEE, JOHN T. DAVIDSON.

